When USC athletic director Pat Haden fired coach Kevin O'Neil four games into the start of Pac-12 play in January, most believed the Trojans would try to revive interest in their basketball program by targeting splashy candidates for the position.
Sure enough, the first coach to acknowledge he has interviewed for the job would surely create some buzz.
UTEP's Tim Floyd, who coached USC from 2005 to 2009, told the Los Angeles Times on Monday night that he met for three hours with Haden to discuss the job opening, and if you think that's weird, well, you're not alone.
First of all, Floyd resigned at USC in 2009 amid allegations of improper conduct related to the recruitment of ex-Trojans guard O.J. Mayo. Though Floyd was quick to note that the NCAA found no proof he was involved and cleared him of all wrongdoing, it's unusual that the school that essentially sent him packing would now be interested again.
Also strange was the timing of Floyd's on-the-record admission that he has interviewed for the USC job.
